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Board members contract with KSBA to help in the district’s superintendent search

With Superintendent Quin Sutton set to retire June 30, the McCracken County Board of Education must promptly begin its search for his replacement, who will begin July 1. To help in the superintendent search — a long process involving advertising for applicants, selection of a screening committee and the screening of applicants by both the screening committee and board members — board members contracted with the Kentucky School Board Association, which has a long history of helping Kentucky’s public schools find strong leaders. McCracken County Schools have contracted with KSBA to assist in the selection process of all superintendents hired since 1992. Before their discussion and vote to contract with KSBA, board members heard from the organization’s executive director, Mike Armstrong.

“Good school systems attract even better applicants,” Armstrong told the board. “I am very confident McCracken will attract quality applicants to be the next superintendent.”

KSBA’s fee for its assistance is $6,000, plus travel expenses for the district’s appointed consultant, which Armstrong says allows the organization to break even. Board members agreed it was a worthwhile investment to have the KSBA’s experience in their search for MCPS’s next leader.

Entire district to get wired and wireless network reset

Board members voted to take advantage of a significant discount offered through the federal Universal Service Fund’s E-Rate program to refresh the wired and wireless internet networks throughout the district. For the first time, MCPS is projected to receive an 80 percent discount through the program, compared with 60 percent in years past. The project will be externally funded with 80 percent coming from the E-Rate discount, and 20 percent from existing Kentucky Education Technology Services funds set aside for the project. The refresh of the district’s network will be completed over the next 18 months as the E-Rate program approves McCracken’s application and makes funding available.

Board members voted to not only continue the district’s NBCT Incentive Program, but to double the number of teachers accepted in the program’s second year.

Last year board members funded mentoring and the first of four training components required by the National Board for five teachers selected through a competitive application process at a cost of $2,735. Given the option this year of either (a) funding the second component for those first five teachers and the first component for five new teachers, or (b) funding the first component for 10 new teachers (both at a cost of $5,470), the board opted for the latter. Both options were attractive, board members agreed, but the chosen option will encourage the greatest number of teachers to pursue National Board Certification, which is more in line with the original intent of the incentive program.

District to begin process of crafting new vision and mission in line with MCPS values

Board members voted to establish a representative committee — parents, students, staff, teachers, administrators, a board member, local business leaders and community members — to craft a fresh vision and mission for McCracken County Public Schools in time for the new school year.

The committee will begin by reviewing feedback from the AdvanceEd External Review Team’s recent accreditation visit, and drafting four Core Values. From those values the committee will draft a mission statement and vision statement to be presented to the board by June for consideration. The resulting Values, Mission and Vision will be shared throughout the district and community in the summer months, just in time to kick off the 2017-18 school year with a new, shared purpose.